NEW METROPOLITAN OPERA TRUNK SHOW BY CLARA KASAVINA NOVEMBER 27TH-28TH

Ever look at those fabulous outfits during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera and dream of taking them home? Or just marvel at the opulence of the curtains and chandeliers and find your imagination taking flight?

Dreams have become reality in an unexpected way. The Met has teamed up with Clara Kasavina, the beloved fashion house that has called New York City home for over thirty years, painstakingly crafting every luxurious handbag and piece of jewelry by hand in their Long Island City factory and showroom.

The Met handed over costumes in storage from productions of Don Carlo, The Merry Widow, and other operas. They added sections of the famed gold curtain of the Old Met, formerly at Broadway and 40th street, which was torn down in 1966.

And what did they get in return? A series of stunning handbags and clutches made from these materials in astonishing configurations, laden with crystal from the Old Met’s magnificent chandeliers, all personally designed by Clara Kasavina and assembled lovingly by hand.

The “Olga” evening bag, for example, was made from the costume worn by mezzo-soprano sensation Sandra Piques Eddy in the Met’s production of The Merry Widow. Then there is a series of bags from Verdi’s Don Carlo, one a minaudière in brick red velvet adorned with gold braiding, another a small red velvet clutch with a crystal-encrusted frame.

It's time for another opportunity to witness the extraordinary partnership between the Metropolitan Opera and Clara Kasavina in action. On November 27th and 28th, come to the Met Shop between 12 pm and 8 pm to witness this collection of remarkable handbags and jewelry—and maybe meet the designer herself. Come see fashion and opera meet in an exceptional way!